Private Music Lessons Information & Policies
Effective July, 2021
Welcome to Art Moore Studios! I am excited to work with you in achieving your goals through private music lessons. Here’s a little bit about me –
From a very young age, I have been passionate about music. After composing and conducting my first symphony in high school, I attended Brigham Young University on a tuba performance scholarship and now hold a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition. I play eight different instruments and run a recording studio. I have been a private music teacher and have conducted choirs and orchestras for over 20 years, including The Group for New Music at BYU and the community orchestra for Les Misérables in South Jordan.
This document outlines what you need to know before beginning lessons with me and the policies for my studio. Please contact me with questions anytime at 801-231-7759 or arthur.moore@gmail.com.
My Philosophy & Methodology
Music should first and foremost bring joy to the performer—and that will then be felt by the audience. Music lessons are one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. As one parent said, “They just need music in their lives.” I’ve seen students’ ability to concentrate improve with lessons. As they learn to compose and improvise, I’ve seen their confidence grow. The skills they learn in music lessons will continue throughout many aspects of their lives.
Following are a few articles out of the thousands available online that cover the benefits of music lessons.
http://www.parents.com/kids/development/intellectual/benefits-of-music-lessons/
Practicing is a Personal Responsibility
In order to develop a love of music that will bring them joy for the rest of their lives, music needs to be the student's choice. This is why I have a “No Nag” practice policy for parents. Parents are allowed to remind students to practice once daily. After that, it is up to the student to take personal responsibility for their own improvement. I will work with each student to set age-appropriate practice goals (number of days and amount of time) in their lessons. Students will also be given assignments to listen to/watch audio and video recordings online to facilitate their music education. Don't be surprised if your student is watching youtube videos and calling it “practice”!
Composition and Improvisation
I believe that composition and improvisation are as important to playing an instrument as reading and writing are to speaking English. I teach these subjects as a matter of course in our lessons, tailoring them to each student’s interests and needs.
Music Theory and Reading Notation
Every student learns to read music notation according to their instrument, and receives music theory instruction as part of their lessons. This is taught in a natural, organic way, with direct application to their current work.
Recordings
I use recordings as a major part of my teaching practice. Recording students is exciting, it is a snapshot of where they are in their musical journey, and it allows them to easily share their performances with family and friends. These recordings are private; I never share a recording on social media or otherwise without your direct consent.
Performing
Performing is a critical part of being a musician. A fall recital will be held each year to allow your student(s) to showcase their developing talents. There is a modest recital fee for each student due by the date of the recital. If schedules permit, we will also hold a spring recital.
Tuition
A monthly tuition payment reserves your lesson time slot for the year. The tuition amount accounts for six weeks of no lessons due to my vacation schedule (see below). This means that if you cancel or miss a lesson, the tuition amount remains the same. You are guaranteed 46 lessons total in a 12-month period. Lessons are 30 minutes each.
Due Date and Amount
Tuition payments are due by the 10th of every month.
Monthly tuition - Art Moore (per student): $140
Monthly tuition - Teacher (per student): $120 or $100 depending on teacher
Making a Payment
Payments will be accepted through the mobile application Venmo. (Learn more about Venmo at https://venmo.com.) First, download the app on your mobile device for free. Then, set up your bank routing and account number in order to make payments at no charge. You will receive a payment request before the end of the month for the next month’s payment. Note that payments are not automatic; you must initiate payments every month by the due date. I will also use Venmo to request reimbursement for the books your child will use for their lessons.
Late Payments
If your payment is received after the last day of the month, a 10% late payment fee will be assessed (i.e., $14). Your time slot may also be filled by a student from the waiting list.
Tuition Cancellation
If you no longer wish to continue with lessons, a 30-day advance notice is required in writing via email. No partial refunds will be given for the current month and the next month’s tuition is still due. You can continue to attend lessons during this time or not.
Lesson Schedule & Policies
Schedule
Consistency in music lessons is key. Lessons will be held every week except for those listed below. I will provide at least one week’s advance notice for my to-be-scheduled vacation weeks.
TBD – Three weeks of vacation (Apprentice teachers are Four weeks of vacation)
November – Week of Thanksgiving
December/January – Weeks of Christmas and New Year's
Missed Lessons
Please provide at least 24 hours advance notice if you will miss a lesson. Missed lessons will generally not be rescheduled. Instead, Makeup lessons for all my students are available online, upon request. These lessons are recorded by me and are generally 15 minutes long. They are meant to be watched twice, and be near their instrument to engage in the practice aspects of the makeup lessons. We will work on performance techniques, music history, and composition/improvisation. Some of the lessons are geared towards less advanced students, and some are geared towards more advanced students.
Chaperones
In person students under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or other adult. Emails or texts sent to me by students under age 18 are replied to by including both the student and the parent/guardian. Online lessons do not require a chaperone. They should be held in an open, safe place in your home.
Online Lessons
Online lessons may require other items such as a tripod, headphones, laptop, phone, or tablet. Drum and piano students especially may need to purchase a tripod to help me see proper angles for these students.
Life Happens . . .
I will do my best to respect your schedule and to set realistic expectations about when lessons will not be held. I understand that life happens and sometimes 24 hours advance notice is not possible. However, repeated late or no-notice cancellations may result in loss of your reserved time slot.